I can't! I can't! I can't!
As a Christian, unless what you are saying is that you cannot sin because you have been born again and love God and has his word remaining in you (1 John 3:9), you must not allow yourself to be trapped in a mindset of inability, especially when things come to try you.
Stop, breathe and remember that God is with you. Many things will rise up like an "enemy" against you, but the truth must remain in you at all times. You must keep God's word in your heart always.
"with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
"greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
These are not sweet sayings to just quote but should be on your mind like lines of code in a computer program that will make sure you always handle things a certain way - God's way and God's servant's way. That's not being a robot, but being faithful to walk in obedience to God and being stable in that. And that faithfulness or fidelity that is implied in a walf of faith works by love (Galatians 5:6; John 14:15).
John 15:7-10
7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
Saying "O my God!" (in dismay) and raising the flag of defeat is not one of those commandments. You don't surrender to things and trials of this life.
"No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
God can make a way where no way is seen with the eyes or perceived with the understanding, and that must be kept in mind, or else we become guilty of forgetting who our almighty God who made heaven and earth is.
If God is leading you (you are careful to make sure that that is the case), no random thing whatsoever is happening in your life. Be sure of that. So when a challenge arises, seek to find your calling in it. What is it that God wants you to do in that particular situation? What is for sure, He is calling you to pray, to talk to Him, to call upon Him, not tell the world how you "can't deal with this." He may be leading you to learn a lesson that will make you increase in wisdom for you, your family and anyone else who comes your way, and in any case, He is leading you to something that has the potential to increase your faith as you see how He works through it. But if you don't walk by faith, you may never get to certain depths in your relationship with God because you have not taken the trouble to walk with Him through things. Such may be things that bring you pain, frustration or uncertainty about the future. And these things are all real and can affect you deeply, but God's servant's way of facing life's afflictions (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9) is realiance on Him and his grace, with the humility to ask Him for help, wisdom or anything needful in the situation at hand.
On this note, we want to take a moment for a few words about what is called positive thinking. The best-seller books of worldly wisdom may teach that positive thinking is the way to go in the "self-help" world, even the way of "success" in all things, but the bible says no such thing as to think positively. Rather, it abounds in exhortations to lean on God and his strength and not on one's own understanding (that implies a life wholly submitted to Him). That is not negative. That is not even comparable to a so-called positive way of thinking. It's a way literally from out of this world. For the world has its ways and God's servants have their ways, having been called out of the world (John 15:19; 1 John 2:15-17). Subtly, what the positive thinking attitude will do is to make you convince yourself of a lie about a situation and about your own power in it, so you deny by the same token the truth that surrounds you. And God may then not be inclined to reveal more truth to you that could make you free from things that you may be bound by and blind to (John 8:31-36). Basically, by turning to self and not to God, you have been deceived to walk in darkness while feeling enlightened. The ways of the world that may appeal to your flesh will deceive and corrupt you. We take the time to mention this because it is not uncommon that a professed bible believer would routinely act like he doesn't actually believe what the bible teaches. A renewing of the mind in therefore needed.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
It is necessary to grow in grace, always seeking to live a life that is more pleasing to God and also that brings Him the most glory. Following "self-help" solutions results in one glorifying himself or herself and not God. Reliance on self-help ways screams that there is no relationship at work between a person and God. That person may say "Thank God" for a relief or solution of sorts, but the fact that God was not brought into the picture in the first place will remain a "negative" in that positive thinker's relationship with God. It is impossible to look at God's faithful servants throughout the bible and find the place where they would put that self-help, given that they have a relationship with the almighty God and the full assurance of his deliverance. He is our Helper that we should call upon in times of trouble and in times of rejoicing likewise. Have we understood how the relationship works? God is long-suffering and merciful and it's not too late, as applicable, to make it right with Him! :-)
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything (whatever circumstance) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Instead of fretting about something, all it may take is to resist that urge and stop to make a petition to God, knowing that He will answer you and lighten your path and your burden likewise.
Are you part of the "we" in the below passages?
1 John 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
Endeavor always to bring God's will to be done on earth (Matthew 10:6) as you walk in his ways and submit your life to be used for his service. Seek to so bear much fruit for God (John 15:8; Titus 3:8, 3:14; Hebrews 10:24; 2 Corinthians 9:8) and bring glory to Him who deserves it. He deserves it. Amen. HalleluYah!
Therefore remain connected to Jesus:
John 15:1-8
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
May Jesus bless you!
_______
See also:
Entering into God's rest and walking in it
Walking by faith and under precise direction
System of error
Love not the world (If you are worldly, you are not spiritual)
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